Compaq iPaq 3650/30 PocketPC

Branding can often be confusing, and in the case of Compaq's latest
attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the letter "i", confusion
has reigned supreme. Compaq's iPaq moniker evokes different images for
different people: for some, it's an iMac wannabe desktop computer. Others
think of the iPaq as thin-client/terminal-like computer, and still others
know of the iPaq only in the sense of a handheld unit. Well, before we get
too far along here, let me point out that all of these views are true (or at
least, potentially true). Compaq does offer a remarkably small desktop
computer (FlexATX specification) that it markets as the iPaq
Desktop. Likewise, their marketing has, at times, confused people in the realm of
thin clients and the like, partially because their Aero
thin-clients are actually H/PC units, which then in turn can get
confused with what we're reviewing today: the iPaq 36x0 handheld (Palm-like)
PC running Windows CE.

Here's
a word on just what I'm reviewing. The much sought-after device that is the Compaq iPaq 3650 also has a
secret identity: the 3630. The iPaq 3650, which is often sold out
on-line and sometimes auctioned off on eBay for big bucks, is the very same
exact unit as the iPaq 3630, which is available from a few locations on-line
(although it's not supposed to be), and all kinds of retail stores. After
talking with a few people over e-mail, the basic consensus is that companies
like Compaq do things like this (one model number for on-line, one for
retail) to make price-comparison shopping more difficult, and to aid retail
stores in keeping prices up. So, the 3630's price doesn't have to
match the 3650's price, because they're "different units." Oddly
enough, in this instance the price on-line is normally greater than the
in-store price of the 36x0, but that wasn't the desired effect. Ah, the
whole scenario brings up remembrances of old
rants about retail shops...

Still, the important thing to remember here is that both units are the
same. So, throughout my review I'll simply be commenting on the "iPaq,"
but be referring to both the 3650 and the 3630. Let's take a look at the
unit's vitals.

This unit has a Type II Compact
Flash slot when its expansion jacket is on, infrared (115kbs), a mic, speaker and earplug-speaker jack,
backlight.

There's pretty much only one way to describe this unit: phat. It's loaded
with RAM, powered by a more-than-ample CPU, and sports a beautiful display.
People cry when they see the thing. One should also note the software
package: for any Microsoftie, it's almost all there. Since I obtained this
unit to use in my Real Life Job™, all of this came in quite useful. More
on that in a bit. Let me just cover briefly what we at Ars term the Out of
Box experience.

Packaging

Put simply, the packaging was a disappointment.

To install the unit properly, you need to locate and load the contents of
the Microsoft ActiveSync CD. Looking through your materials, you'll likely
miss it. Where is it? It's in the shrink-wrapped sub-package that has
the big, phat "Discovering Microsoft Outlook 2000" on the cover.
The cover is colorful, attention grabbing; in fact, it's the typical
"Certificate of Authenticity" design, but it's ca. 4 inches wide and ca. 7 inches large. Ah, there we go, look on the back.
Yeah, where
it's completely blank save some non-descript, non-sequitur text that reads
"Microsoft Windows for Pocket PC, Professional Edition 2000." I
gathered that the Active Sync disk I was looking for was in there.

Perhaps all of this wouldn't have been alarming had there also been any real
instructions to speak of. Setup instructions consist of a fold out cardboard
CD-case, and get outdone by the directions on a box of Uncle Ben's Rice.
They don't seem to take into consideration what Windows wants to do at setup,
either. The instructions have you plug the USB cradle in, put the handheld in
the cradle, and then turn the unit on. Of course, Windows wakes up and
wants to install the thing, seeing it sitting out there on the USB bus. But
alas, the instructions don't say anything about this happening. Rather, one
is supposed to up and install the software from the CD. Think this is idle
whining? Well, in Windows 2000, if you ignore the "Found New Hardware"
windows, and run setup, setup fails. Any guess as to why? Well,
when the system detected the USB device, it took hold of it and wouldn't allow
the CD-setup program to talk to the device, hence a few rounds of "device
not found."